Connemara Namesakes: Ponies and the Irish Gemstone
Written by Ciaran Vipond on Sep 23, 2019 | 2 Comments
Enthusiasts of a famous Connemara export descend on Clifden each August. And they are not there for the world famous marble, but another Connemara namesake. Each year the hardy Connemara Pony is celebrated in its own festival in it’s Co. Galway home. Read on to find out more about the origins of these iconic and cherished Connemara Namesakes and get answers to questions like “Why is Connmeara Marble Green?”
The Connemara Pony
Though not as famous as the “gemstone of Ireland,” the Connemara Pony is just as cherished. Prized for centuries, they are typically strong, brave, intelligent and very hard working. Such traits fit the wild and rugged landscape of Connemara. But they also make them great pets, willing cart horses, and brave show jumpers.
The Origins of the Connemara Pony
Like many things in Ireland, the origin of these ponies is a tangle of legends! The story goes that Viking invaders brought their sturdy Scandinavian ponies to Ireland. These tough ponies are said to have mixed with beautiful Andalusian horses, escapees of Spanish Armada ships, wrecked on Galway's coast in the 1500’s. With time, this unconventional pairing led to this unusual pony that has a refined beauty but a hardy disposition.
The Origins of Connemara Marble
Happily we need not rely on legend when it comes to the origins of the region’s other namesake, the rare and beautiful Connemara marble.
Found exclusively along Ireland’s rugged wild Atlantic coast, it formed from sediment deposited in a shallow primal sea over 600 million years ago! This sediment was transformed by intense temperatures and pressures generated in the formation of the mountains of the West of Ireland and Scotland over 390 million years ago.
Why is Connemara Marble Green?
The various shades of rich to pale green that make Connemara Marble so famous are formed of tiny crystals of various green and cream minerals; serpentine, diopside, chlorite, calcite, and dolomite.
Ornamental Connemara Marble
Connemara Marble is one of the rarest forms of marble in the world due to its limited supply. It i still quarried to this day in Co. Galway and has been shipped around the world as a treasured ornamental stone. It was used in the lovely Galway Cathedral, in Ireland, Westminster Cathedral in London, as well as farther afield in The Senate Chamber of the State building in Pennsylvania.
Connemara Marble Jewellery
The beautiful and unique patterns of green make it a beautiful stone not only for building but for jewellery too! We use this stunning marble in earrings, necklaces, and rings to craft striking pieces, each with a genuine piece of Ireland.
Treasured and traded for centuries in Ireland, it continues to be of great value today. And we take great pride in sharing our carefully crafted Connemara Jewellery with our customers worldwide.
Connemara Jewellery For You
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Ciaran Vipond
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Co. Antrim and reared in Dublin, I was fascinated with Gaelic culture from an early age. I suppose it's not surprising given my mother inherited a grá for the Irish language from my grandfather, an Irish school headmaster. And that grá continues! My brother and sister are now Gaelic teachers here in Ireland, my niece is an award winning Irish dancer, and I proudly work to share Irish culture through our Irish and Celtic Jewelry at My Irish Jeweler!
I love researching and reading about the history of Irish design. It's at the core of what we do here at My Irish Jeweler. I find much of it so interesting that I have to share what I find. I hope you enjoy it!
Comments
How wonderful! I am of Irish and Scottish descent and always enjoy learning about my heritage. I teach piano and voice and play two harps that connect me to my Irish roots. My husband and I planted a “ fairy tree”, a hawthorn, in our back yard and love seeing the beautiful colors and bright berries as autumn arrives.
I recently ordered a Connemara marble necklace for my sister for Christmas. I know she will love it.
Thank you for your beautiful Irish offerings.
Sheila Conolly-McKin
Ask Gemma
Thank you for your lovely note Sheila. I am jealous of your hawthorn tree in the garden! They are beautiful. It is wonderful to hear you are keeping traditions going and that you enjoyed our writing. We hope your sister loves her piece of Ireland, a fabulous gift!